Refuse compacting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A housing is provided with an internal chamber adapted to accommodate refuse to be compacted. A plunger is mounted in the chamber and is movable from a rest position at one end of the chamber to an advanced position adjacent the other end of the chamber and in which position refuse in the chamber is compacted, and back to its retracted rest position. Operating means is provided for automatically cycling the displacement of the plunger from and to its retracted rest positions. Initiating means is associated with the operating means for initiating the operation of the same.

Umted States Patent [151 3,688,686 Ligh 1 1 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] REFUSE COMPACTING APPARATUS 3,229,618 ll 1966 O Connor ..100/51 [72] Inventor: David R. Ligh, Box 120, 193 3,250,414 5/1966 P och ..100/52 ux Main St; Madison N J 07940 3,315,594 4/1967 S1mshauser ..100/52 3,384,007 5/1968 Boje et al 100/50 X [22] Filed: March 13, 1970 3,352,230 11/1967 Hunnicutt ..100/53 3,070,003 12/1962 Stacy ..100/53 X [21] 19281 3,577,911 5/1971 Morse, ..100/53 Related US. Application Data Pn Em B H J wllh 1 a mi 'te [63] f;m;19n6u9at1:;;t1lnd-gtz::i0fSer.N0. 884,178, Dec. $g, a 1 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..100/52, 100/53, 100/215, l

oo 2 og 5 oo R A housmg 1s provlded w1th an mtemal chamber 51 1m. (:1. ..B30b 15/16 adapted to accommodate refuse be P A [58] Field of Search ..100/43, 48, 49, 50, 51 52 Plunger is mwmed in the chamber and is mmble oo 215, 218 250 256 91/2 from a rest position at one end of the chamber to an advanced position adjacent the other end of the [56] References Cited chamber and in which position refuse in the chamber is compacted, and back to its retracted rest position. UNITED STATES PATENTS Operating means is provided for automatically cycling v the displacement of the plunger from and to its gi g f "100/52 retracted rest positions. Initiating means is associated 50 H952 Smith "100, with the operating means for initiating the operation 2,912,037 11/1959 Rhodes ..100/52 ofihe Same 3,228,323 1/ 1966 Schohl ..100/52 UX 8 Claims, 3 Drawing figures PATENTEBSEP smz I 3.688.686

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ATTORNEY PATENIEDSE '5 m2 sum 3 or s INVENTOR 04mg 2. 1, I67! W404i. 1M

ATTORNEY 1 REFUSE COMPACTING APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to refuse compressors, and more particularly to refuse compressors which are usable both for commercial and household use. Still more specifically the present invention relates to a refuse compacting apparatus whose cycling is accomplished in a simple, economical and reliable manner and without normally requiring the attention of an operator during the operating cycle.

In my aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 884,178, of which the present application is a continuation-in-part, I have disclosed a novel refuse compressor whose housinghas an interior chamber-and an inlet through which quantities of refuse to be compressed may be admitted into the chamber. A platen or plunger is received in the chamber for sliding forward movement towards one end wall of the chamber to thereby compress the refuse between the one end wall and the platen, and for return movement away from the aforementioned end wall of the chamber. An operating arrangement is associated with the platen and serves to cause the latter to move forward at a first speed and under a first pressure, and to cause the platen to return to its starting position at a higher second speed but under a lower second pressure. Drain openings are provided in the region of a door of the housing, through which drain openings liquid expressed from the refuse during the compression stroke may leave the housing.

This apparatus fulfills certain pressing needs associated with modern refuse disposal. It is well known that this disposal problem is becoming ever more critical, especially in urbanareas. As more and more items are packaged in so-called one-way containers which are discarded when emptied, and as packages become more elaborate, the refuse mix is becoming ever more bulky and more and more difficult to dispose of. In fact, in certain urban areas this problem has already become critical as evidenced by the fact that proposals have been made to ship refuse from New York City and environs by rail to the northern New England states for burial in land fill projects.

Evidently, the problem would at least be mitigated if it were be possible to substantially reduce the refuse bulk, thus requiring less space for its collection, making it easier to handle the refuse and requiring less space for its burial. My refuse compactor disclosed in the aforementioned copending application meets these requirements and provides for the first time refuse compacting equipment which is not only relatively simple in its construction and therefore comparatively inexpensive, but which is also compact in its dimensions and requires but little space, thus making it possible to employ this unit both in commercial and household use.

I have found, however, that it is desirable to provide refuse compactors of the type here under discussionnot only the one set forth in my copending application but also any other refuse compactors of suitable typewith means for automatically cycling the operation of the machine so that during the operating cycle there is not normally any need for the attention and intervention of an operator. Such means should, of course, be as simple as possible so as to be economical in construction but also to require little or no skill on the part of the operator. It is, in fact, desirable for the arrangement to be such that the operator initiates the operating cycle of the machine by simply moving a lever,

depressing a button or turning a knob, whereupon the complete operating cycle will take place automatically with the apparatus returning to its original loading condition and automatically shutting down all power systems. To allow for unforeseen contingencies it is, however, also desirable that the controls for the system be such as to permit the operator to shut down the system or to override the automatic cycling and operate the unit in whatever particular-manner desired by him or her.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide the aforementionedv advantages and improvements.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide a refuse compacting apparatus possessed of these advantages.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a refuse compacting apparatus wherein the ope rator need merely initiate the compacting sequence whereupon the cycling of the apparatus takes place automatically.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus wherein the operator may shut down the entire system at will or may override the automatic cycling of the apparatus and operate the unit at will and in the manner desired by him.

In pursuance of the above objects, and of others which will become apparent hereafter, my invention resides in a refuse compacting apparatus which according to one feature of the invention comprises, briefly stated, housing means having an internal chamber adapted to accommodate refuse to be compacted. Plunger means is mounted in this chamber and is operable for cyclical displacement from a retracted rest position to an advanced compacting position and back to the retracted rest position. Operating means is provided for automatically cycling the displacement of the plunger means from and to the retracted rest position. Finally, initiating means is associated with the operating means for initiating the operation of the same.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.

The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating one type of refuse compacting apparatus with which my invention may be utilized;

3 FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing one embodiment of my invention; and

FIG. 3 is a partly sectioned diagrammatic view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating a further embodiment of my invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that the refuse compacting apparatus illustrated there is of the horizontal type and reminiscent of the apparatus disclosed in my aforementioned copending application, Ser. No. 884,178. However, it is emphasized that other refuse compacting apparatus may also be provided with my present invention, and that this includes so-called vertical apparatus.

The apparatus shownin FIG. 1 comprises a housing 1 which is mounted on legs or supports 2 s suitable type. The particular type and configuration of the legs 2 requires nodiscussion. Housing 1 is provided with an internal chamber 16 which is elongated and whose longitudinal axis is generally horizontal; as mentioned before, this axis could also be vertical or inclined to the horizontal at a desired angle. Chamber 16 is open at the end 4 and housing 1 is provided at the end 4 of the chamber 16 with a closure or cover 3 which is mounted on the housing by means of sturdy hinges and movable from the illustrated open position to a closed position in which it overlies and closes the end 4 of the chamber 16. Reference numeral 6 identifies diagrammatically illustrated latches of suitable type and whose construction forms no part of the invention. Of course, it must be kept in mind that both the hinges 5 and the latches 6 must be strong enough to hold the closure 3 in closed position against internal pressure developing in the chamber 16 and that the latches should advantageously be of the quick-acting type to permit rapid latching and unlatching of the closure 3.

The housing 1 is provided with a cutout surrounded by a hopper 13 through which refuse to be compacted is introduced into the interior of the chamber 16. A lid or cover 14 is provided for closing the hopper l3 and a safety interlock switch 15 is provided on hopper 13 and lid l4and/or housing 1 and closure 3--to prevent operation of the unitwhen the closure 3 and/or closure 14 are in open position, as will be discussed in more detail subsequently.

There is further arranged in the chamber 16 adjacent the closed end 9 thereof a plunger 7 which is reciprocably movable towards and away from the open end 4, compressing anyrefuse in the chamber 16 as it moves towards the open end 4. A cylinder 10 is pro vided in'which a piston 11 is reciprocable whose piston rod 12 is connected-advantageously via a swivel joint-with the plunger 7.

Details of the apparatus in FIG. 1 as described to this point are already known from'my aforementioned application Ser. No. 884,178.

A complete operating cycle of the apparatus consists in movement of the plunger 7 from its withdrawn rest position (shown in broken lines in FIG. 1) to an advanced compacting position in which it is much closer to the open end 4 and accordingly to the closed door or closure 3, and subsequent withdrawal of the plunger 7 to its retracted rest position. Once the plunger 7 has returned to its rest position, and the compacted refuse has been removed from the interior of the chamber 16, the unit is ready for the next operating cycle.

According to the present invention it is desired to effect the cycling of the unit automatically. FIG. 2 shows in diagrammatic form the hydraulic and electrical circuits provided for carrying out this intention. The housing is shown fragmentarily and again identified with reference numeral 1. Reference numeral 16 again identifies the chamber in .the housing and reference numeral 7 the plunger. Reference nu meral l0 identifies the hydraulic cylinder and reference numeral 11 the piston reciprocable in the cylinder 10 and provided withthe piston rod 12 which extends into the chamber 16 and is coupled with the plunger 7 in its advanced position as well as to retract it to its retracted rest position. A control valve 17 is provided which in the illustrated embodiment is a spool-type valve but which could also be a rotary type; the valve 17 is a four-way valve with two operating positions and which may be manually controlled by the knob 19, for instance by shifting the same in the direction of the double-headed arrow so as to provide manual control of the valve 17 for an operator. The control valve 17 is connected with the pressure side of the cylinder 10 by means of a conduit 18, and with the retracting side of the cylinder 10 by means of a second conduit 18a. Displacement of the knob 19 in the direction towards the left-hand side in FIG. 2 causes high pressure hydraulic fluid to enter through the'conduit 18 into the cylinder 10, exerting pressure on the piston 11 and shifting the same and thereby the plunger 7 towards the left, whereby the plunger compacts refuse contained in the chamber 16. Conversely, shifting of the knob 19 towards the right in FIG. 2 will cause high pressure fluid to flow through the conduit 18a into the cylinder 10, displacing the piston 11 in the opposite direction, namely towards the right-hand side in FIG. 2 and retracting the plunger 7 to its illustrated retracted rest position. Of course, the relationship of the movement of the knob 19 to the conduits 18, 18a could also be reversed without departing from the scope and concept of the invention. The necessary hydraulic fluid is contained in a fluid reservoir 22 where it is identified with reference numeral 23, and a pump 20driven by an electric motor 2lsupplies the hydraulic fluid under pressure to the valve 17. Such pumps and motors are well known, as is the valve 17.

As the plunger 7 moves towards the left-hand side in FIGS. 1 and 2, pressure builds up as refuse is compacted between the plunger 7 and the closure 3 in the chamber 16. Such pressure build-up of course also occurs in the cylinder 10 at the pressure side thereof, that is the side which is supplied with fluid through the conduit 18. In a predetermined pressure value (measured in pounds per square inch) has been reached in the cylinder 10, as determined by the high-pressure relieve valve 24, the pressure fluid overflow passes to the low pressure valve 25 which limits pressure to approximately 5 lbs./in. This is thepressure which obtains in the conduit 26 and which acts upon a small control cylinder 27 in which a piston 28 is reciprocable; the piston 28 in turn is provided with a link or projection 29 which, when the piston 28 moves towards the right in FIG. 2 in response to pressure in the conduit 26, will act upon the extension spool 30 of the directional control valve 17, reversing the spool of the valve 17 to the opposite operating position and automatically causing thereby the plunger 7 to retract to its original righthand rest position as a result of termination of the flow of pressure fluid through the conduit 18 and initiation of a flow of pressure fluid through the conduit 18a into the cylinder 10. The low pressure valve 25 maintains pressure at 5 lbsJin. and the overflow of liquid-this being a hydraulic system-is returned to the reservoir Reference numeral 31 is a control knob of a timer 32 of conventional construction which can be set for a predetermined operating cycle of, say, three minutes. Of course, instead of the knob 31 other operating means may be provided and other operating cycles may be selected with the timer 32. The door safety switch (or switches) l5 prevents energization of the electrical circuit until the door or closure 3 and/or 14-depending on whether one or both are provided with the switch are closed. Once this is the case and the knob 31 has been previously or is subsequently turned to on position, the control current actuates relay coil 33 causing it to close the main contacts 34 and supply electrical power to the motor 21 of the unit. The timer 32 operates for the preselected time period, such as the aforementioned three minutes, and thereupon deenergizes relay coil 33 and shuts down the apparatus. Of course, if it is desired to extend the timer cycle then the knob 31 can be turned again, as well as the original operational period for the timer 32 can be selected to be longer or shorter than the aforementioned three minutes. The knob can of course also be turned to off position when it is desired to manually shut down the system. a

If during the operation of the unit the operator should desire to reverse the direction of movement of the plunger 7, he moves knob 19 to the left or the right in FIG. 2as the case may be-to thereby overcome the pressure in cylinder 27 if the plunger 7 is being retracted, and the system will maintain the new direction of travel which it has thus been instructed to follow.

Coming, finally, to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 it will be seen that what I have shown there is a particularly simple arrangement of the FIG. 2 embodiment. I provide in the embodiment of FIG. 3 a compact control block 35 of suitable material, Preferably aluminum because of the low weight and ease of working associated with this material. The block 35 is drilled and tapped as illustrated and it is clear that with this arrangement the need for separate conduits connecting the high-pressure relief valve 24, the low-pressure relief valve 25 and the control cylinder 27 is avoided, so that the construction is simpler and more compact.

As shown the high-pressure relief valve 24 comprises a seat 24a, a valve member 24b and a spring 24c which normally urges the valve member 24b into sealing engagement with the valve seat 24a. The construction of the low-pressure relief valve 25 is analogous, there being provided a valve seat 25a, a ball-shapedor otherwise configurated-valve member 25b and a spring 250 normally urging the valve member 25b into sealing engagement with the valve seat 25a. Of course, the strength of the springs 24c and 250 is so selected that the valves will open at the desired pressures.

The cylinder 27 is constituted by a recess 36 formed or machined in the block 35 and connected in the illustrated manner by the unnumbered bores with the valves 24 and 25. The piston 28 is reciprocably received in the recess 36 and one or more O-rings 37 are provided to seal the piston 28 with respect to the circumferential wall bounding the recess 36.

The control block 35 with its associated components is assembled and is connected with the control valve 17 by means of the conduits which have been diagrammatically illustrated. Flexible tubing or hoses connect the device by means of standard fittings with the pump 20 and the reservoir 22 (see FIG. 2). All other components illustrated in FIG. 3 are the same 'as those shown in FIG. 2, and like reference numerals identify like components.

It can occasionally happen with the construction shown in FIG. 3 that the operation of the valves 24, 25 and the cylinder 27 takes place so rapidly that the main control valve 17 is not entirely shifted from one flow direction to the other. This would result in improper operation of the system and if such an occurrence should take place, then according to a further embodiment of the invention the problem can be avoided by interposing between the low pressure relief valve 25 and the port into which the same discharges a short length of rubber hose, or generally hose of elastomeric material. This length of hose provides in effect a pressure accumulator because the discharge of fluid overflow through this tube causes the latter to expand because of the 5 lbs./in. pressure, and the hose is capable of holding this pressure long enough to ensure complete switching-over of the main control valve 17 from one to the other operating position thereof.

It will be evident from what I have set forth above that with my novel invention I have achieved the purposes mentioned earlier, namely to provide completely automatic cycling of the operation of the compacting apparatus once the controls have been set, shutting down of the apparatus after the cycle is'completed, and the possibility for manual intervention on the part of an operator during any part of the operating cycle. Further, I avoid the possibility of danger to an operator by utilization of the safety interlock switches 15 and I utilize the back pressure in the cylinder 10 for automatic reversal of the function of the control valve 17.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a refuse compacting apparatus, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

lclaim:

j 1. In a refuse compacting apparatus, in combination, housing means having an internal chamber adapted to accommodate refuse to be compacted and provided with an open end; closure means movable to and from a position closing said open end; plunger means mounted in said chamber and being operable for cyclical displacement from a retracted rest position to an advanced compacting position towards said closure means, and back to said retracted rest position; operating' means for automatically cycling the displacement of said plunger means from and to said retracted rest position,including a double-acting cylinder and piston arrangement coupled-with said plunger means for displacement of the same between said positions, valve means including a control valve movable between two positions in one of which it supplies fluid under pressure to one side of said cylinder and piston arrangement and in the other of which it supplies fluid under pressure to the other side of said cylinder and piston arrangement, and pressure responsive means operative for moving said control valve from said one to said other position in response to the pressure at said one side exceeding a predetermined limit; and combined initiating and override means associated with said operating means for initiating the operation of the same, and comprising a manually engageable portion mechanically connected to said control valve for manually overriding the operation of said operating means at any stage of displacement thereof at the will of an operator.

2. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising safety interlock means cooperating with said closure means and said operating means for preventing operation of the latter when said closure means is in an open position thereof.

3. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1, said operating means comprising a power unit,

8 and said initiating means being operative for initiating operation of said power unit; and wherein said operating means further comprises terminating means for terminating operation of said power unit.

4. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 3, a motor-driven pump'constituting said power unit and operative for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder and piston arrangement, conduit means connecting said pump with said cylinder and piston arrangement, and valve means in said conduit means operative for reversing operation of said cylinder and piston arrangement upon said plunger means reaching said advanced compacting position.

5. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 3, said terminating means comprising timer isi'iir a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 5, said power unit comprising a pump and an electromotor for driving said pump; further comprising electric circuit means for connecting said motorwith a source of electrical energy; and wherein said timer means is interposed in said circuit means for interrupt-, ing the same upon expiration of a predetermined tim following initiation of said operating means.

7. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1, said combined means being associated with said control valve for moving the same between said positions thereof irrespective of the pressure of fluid at the respective sides of said cylinder and piston arrangement.

8. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1, said pressure responsive means being an auxiliary piston-and-cylinder unit; further comprising a high-pressure relief valve opening at said predetermined limit; a low-pressure relief valve; first auxiliary conduit means connecting said one side of said cylinder and piston arrangement with said high-pressure relief valve; second auxiliary conduit means connecting said high-pressure relief vale with said low-pressure relief valve; and third auxiliary conduit means connecting said second auxiliary conduit means with said auxiliary unit whereby, when said pressure at said one side exceeds said predetermined limit, said high-pressure relief valve opens and fluid under pressure passes via said secondary auxiliary conduit means and-said third auxiliary conduit means to said auxiliary unit, displacing the piston thereof, with said piston effecting movement of said control valve to said other position of the latter.

* l l l 

1. In a refuse compacting apparatus, in combination, housing means having an internal chamber adapted to accommodate refuse to be compacted and provided with an open end; closure means movable to and from a position closing said open end; plunger means mounted in said chamber and being operable for cyclical displacement from a retracted rest position to an advanced compacting position towards said closure means, and back to said retracted rest position; operating means for automatically cycling the displacement of said plunger means from and to said retracted rest position, including a double-acting cylinder and piston arrangement coupled with said plunger means for displacement of the same between said positions, valve means including a control valve movable between two positions in one of which it supplies fluid under pressure to one side of said cylinder and piston arrangement and in the other of which it supplies fluid under pressure to the other side of said cylinder and piston arrangement, and pressure responsive means operative for moving said control valve from said one to said other position in response to the pressure at said one side exceeding a predetermined limit; and combined initiating and override means associated with said operating means for initiating the operation of the same, and comprising a manually engageable portion mechanically connected to said control valve for manually overriding the operation of said operating means at any stage of displacement thereof at the will of an operator.
 2. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising safety interlock means cooperating with said closure means and said operating means for preventing operation of the latter when said closure means is in an open position thereof.
 3. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1, said operating means comprising a power unit, and said initiating means being operative for initiating operaTion of said power unit; and wherein said operating means further comprises terminating means for terminating operation of said power unit.
 4. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 3, a motor-driven pump constituting said power unit and operative for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder and piston arrangement, conduit means connecting said pump with said cylinder and piston arrangement, and valve means in said conduit means operative for reversing operation of said cylinder and piston arrangement upon said plunger means reaching said advanced compacting position.
 5. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 3, said terminating means comprising timer means.
 6. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 5, said power unit comprising a pump and an electromotor for driving said pump; further comprising electric circuit means for connecting said motor with a source of electrical energy; and wherein said timer means is interposed in said circuit means for interrupting the same upon expiration of a predetermined time following initiation of said operating means.
 7. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1, said combined means being associated with said control valve for moving the same between said positions thereof irrespective of the pressure of fluid at the respective sides of said cylinder and piston arrangement.
 8. In a refuse compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1, said pressure responsive means being an auxiliary piston-and-cylinder unit; further comprising a high-pressure relief valve opening at said predetermined limit; a low-pressure relief valve; first auxiliary conduit means connecting said one side of said cylinder and piston arrangement with said high-pressure relief valve; second auxiliary conduit means connecting said high-pressure relief vale with said low-pressure relief valve; and third auxiliary conduit means connecting said second auxiliary conduit means with said auxiliary unit whereby, when said pressure at said one side exceeds said predetermined limit, said high-pressure relief valve opens and fluid under pressure passes via said secondary auxiliary conduit means and said third auxiliary conduit means to said auxiliary unit, displacing the piston thereof, with said piston effecting movement of said control valve to said other position of the latter. 